Rig Veda 2.39.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 39, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.39
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
नावेव नः पारयतं युगेव नभ्येव न उपधीव प्रधीव । श्वानेव नो अरिषण्या तनूनां खृगलेव विस्रसः पातमस्मान् ॥
nā́veva naḥ pārayataṃ yugéva nábhyeva na upadhī́va pradhī́va | śvā́neva no áriṣaṇyā tanū́nāṃ khṛ́galeva vi-srásaḥ pātam asmā́n ||
ایک کشتی کی طرح ہمیں پار لے جاؤ؛ ایک جوئے کی طرح ہمیں جکڑے رکھو؛ ایک دھرے کی طرح ہمیں مرکز میں رکھو؛ سہاروں کی طرح ہمیں سہارا دو۔ چوکس کتوں کی طرح ہمارے جسموں کی حفاظت کرو؛ ایک پکے پاؤں والے جانور کی طرح ہمیں پھسلنے اور گرنے سے بچاؤ۔
Word by Word
- नावा
- like a boatNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (उपमान-प्रयोगः) अथवा तृतीया एकवचन (नावा = नौः इव) वैदिक-रूपRole Karaṇa (उपमान-रूपेण साधनभावः) / Adverbial-comparativeRoot नौ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) / वैदिके दत्तिवत्-प्रयोगोऽपिRole Sampradāna (हित-सम्बन्धः ‘for us’) / PossessiveRoot अस्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- पारयतम्
- carry (us) across, ferry (us)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया) — ‘cause (us) to cross’Root पॄ/पॄ (पारयति) धातु; causative of √पॄ/√पॄ (to carry across)
- युगा
- like yokes (pairs)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (उपमान-प्रयोगः) वैदिक-रूपRole Karaṇa (उपमान-रूपेण) / Adverbial-comparativeRoot युग- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- नभ्य
- with/like a nave (hub)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (नाभ्या) वैदिक-रूप ‘नभ्य’Role Karaṇa (उपमान-रूपेण) / Adverbial-comparativeRoot नाभि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- नः
- for usPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) / वैदिके दत्तिवत्-प्रयोगोऽपिRole Sampradāna (हित-सम्बन्धः) / PossessiveRoot अस्मद्-
- उपधी
- with/like a felly/rim-support (wheel-part)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (उपध्या) वैदिक-रूप ‘उपधी’Role Karaṇa (उपमान-रूपेण) / Adverbial-comparativeRoot उपधि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- प्रधी
- with/like the felly (outer rim)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (प्रध्या) वैदिक-रूप ‘प्रधी’Role Karaṇa (उपमान-रूपेण) / Adverbial-comparativeRoot प्रधि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- श्वान
- like a dogNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (उपमान-प्रयोगः) वैदिक-रूप ‘श्वान’Role Karaṇa (उपमान-रूपेण) / Adverbial-comparativeRoot श्वन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- नः
- for usPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) / वैदिके दत्तिवत्-प्रयोगोऽपिRole Sampradāna (हित-सम्बन्धः) / PossessiveRoot अस्मद्-
- अरिषण्य
- warding off foes, non-injuring/protectiveAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (उपमान-विशेषणम् ‘श्वान’ इत्यस्य) वैदिक-रूपRole Karaṇa (उपमान-सम्बद्ध-विशेषणम्) / AttributeRoot अरिषण्य- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अरि-’ + √सन्/√शन्? वैदिक विशेषण)
- तनीनाम्
- of (our) bodies, of personsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचनRole Sambandha (genitive) — ‘of bodies/persons’Root तनू- (प्रातिपदिक)
- खृगल
- like a khṛgala (a small animal; often ‘jackal/antelope’-type)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (उपमान-प्रयोगः)Role Karaṇa (उपमान-रूपेण) / Adverbial-comparativeRoot खृगल- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- विस्रसः
- (you) loosened/freeing (ones), unfastenedAdjective (participle)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-समर्थ) ‘fallen apart/loosened’Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण युष्मद्-देवतयोः) / Predicate attributeRoot वि-√स्रंस् (स्रंसते) / ‘विस्रस्’ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- पातम्
- protect (you two)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया) — ‘protect’Root √पा (पाति) / √पा (to protect) — वैदिक लोट्-रूप
- अस्मान्
- usPronounद्वितीया बहुवचनRole Karma (रक्षणस्य) / ObjectRoot अस्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): नावा इव नः पारयतम् | युगा इव | नभ्य इव नः उपधी इव प्रधी इव | श्वान इव नः अरिषण्य तनीनाम् | खृगल इव विस्रसः पातम् अस्मान् || 1) नावेव = नावा + इव (स्वर-सन्धिः; ए/आ + इ → ए/एव-लेखनम्). 2) युगेव = युगा + इव. 3) नभ्येव = नभ्य + इव (वैदिक तृतीया ‘नभ्य’ < नाभ्या). 4) उपधीव = उपधी + इव
- प्रधीव = प्रधी + इव. 5) श्वानेव = श्वान + इव. 6) नो अरिषण्य = नः + अरिषण्य (विसर्ग-लोप/एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’). 7) खृगलेव = खृगल + इव. 8) पातमस्मान् = पातम् + अस्मान् (म् + अ → म-अवग्रहाभावः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Aśvins are asked to carry the worshipper across like a boat, hold together like a yoke, keep centered like a nave, support like props. Like watchful dogs guard the bodies; like a sure-footed creature protect from slipping.
Inner meaning
A compact map of integral support. The Aśvins are invoked as (1) the crossing power (boat) that ferries consciousness over difficulty, (2) the unifying power (yoke) that keeps the dual energies aligned, (3) the centering power (nave) that holds the revolving life in a stable axis, and (4) the sustaining power (supports) that prevents collapse under strain. As vigilant guardians they protect the embodied instrument (tanū) from hostile forces and inner lapses. The ‘not slipping’ image points to steadiness on the path—preventing falls into lower habit, confusion, or despair.
Universal truth
Spiritual life needs more than insight: it needs safe passage, unity, centering, support, vigilance, and steadiness—protective and integrative powers that keep the journey continuous.
Themes
Protection, Safe passage, Integration of the being, Healing guardians
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.23 (Bṛhaspati—guidance/protection themes), RV 2.39 (Aśvin support sequence)
Family tradition
Practical spirituality: not only vision, but protective arrangements for the journey of transformation.
Significance
Shows the Aśvins as integrators and guardians of the embodied path—an early Vedic articulation of ‘safe sadhana’.
The deity
- Devata
- Aśvinau
- Epithets
- Dasrā (skillful), Nāsatyā (true)
- Related deities
- Agni (inner guide), Varuṇa (order/protection), Indra (force against obstruction)
Cosmic role
Protectors and rescuers; they conduct beings across peril and keep the chariot of life aligned.
Inner power
Crossing, unifying, centering, sustaining, guarding—comprehensive protective integration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective Aśvin invocation within praise sequences
ना॒वेव॑ नः पारयतं यु॒गेव॒ नभ्ये॑व न उप॒धीव॑ प्र॒धीव॑ । श्वाने॑व नो॒ अरि॑षण्या त॒नूनां॒ खृग॑लेव वि॒स्रस॑: पातम॒स्मान् ॥
ना॒वाऽइ॑व । नः॒ । पा॒र॒य॒त॒म् । यु॒गाऽइ॑व । नभ्या॑ऽइव । नः॒ । उ॒प॒धी इ॒वेत्यु॑प॒धीऽइ॑व । प्र॒धी इ॒वेति॑ प्र॒धीऽइ॑व । श्वाना॑ऽइव । नः॒ । अरि॑षण्या । त॒नूना॑म् खृग॑लाऽइव । वि॒ऽस्रसः॑ । पा॒त॒म् । अ॒स्मान् ॥
nāvāiva | naḥ | pārayatam | yugāiva | nabhyāiva | naḥ | upadhī ivety upadhī-iva | pradhī ivety pradhī-iva | śvānāiva | naḥ | ariṣaṇyā | tanūnām khṛgalāiva | vi-srasaḥ | pātam | asmān
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4×11
Firm, supportive cadence; repeated ‘-eva’ similes create a stabilizing refrain-like effect.
Grounding and reassuring; strengthens steadiness and a feeling of being held together.
- नाव (nāva)
- Literal: boat. Symbolic: crossing-force through difficulty; ferrying beyond limitation
- पारयतम् (pārayatam)
- Literal: carry across. Symbolic: deliverance through transition; passage to a higher state
- युग (yuga)
- Literal: yoke. Symbolic: unification of energies; disciplined linkage of powers
- नाभि (nābhi)
- Literal: nave/center. Symbolic: inner center/axis around which life moves without losing balance
- उपधी/प्रधी (upadhī/pradhī)
- Literal: supports, props. Symbolic: foundational steadiness; inner structures of endurance
- श्वान (śvāna)
- Literal: dog. Symbolic: vigilant guardian consciousness; protective instinct against intrusion
- अरिषण्य (ariṣaṇyā)
- Literal: non-injuring/protecting. Symbolic: benign protection of the bodily instrument
- खृगल (khṛgala)
- Literal: sure-footed animal (goat/antelope-like). Symbolic: sure step on uneven terrain; stability in practice
- विस्रस (visrasaḥ)
- Literal: slipping, loosening. Symbolic: falling from concentration; relapse into lower nature
Protective prayer within Aśvin invocation: securing safe passage, cohesion, and bodily integrity—relevant to rites emphasizing healing and safeguarding the sacrificer.
When seeking safe passage, protection, or steadiness—often in morning invocations
Recitation with offering to request guarding and ‘carrying across’ dangers
Chant during transitions (travel, illness, anxiety, major life change) as a prayer for centering and protection from relapse.
pārayatam: causative/denominative sense ‘make (us) cross’ from √pṛ/√pāra ‘further shore’. vi-√sras ‘to loosen, collapse’ → inner disintegration, loss of cohesion. The sequence of similes (boat/yoke/nave/support) maps a complete technology of integration: conveyance, unification, centering, sustaining.
Crossing beyond danger as inner transition, Cohesion vs. disintegration (vi-sras) as psychological stability
Center (nābhi) and yoke (yuga) symbolize ṛta as alignment and stable order in movement.
Sustaining structures that allow evolution without collapse—supporting tapas in embodiment.
Integral protection of the instrument: body-life-mind safeguarded to receive higher force.
Crossing crises; aligning dual currents; centering in the heart/axis; vigilant awareness guarding the body; steady footing in practice.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Aśvins as saviors who ‘carry across’ and prevent collapse: a classic helper-myth where divine twins ferry the human through peril and restore cohesion. Psychologically, it is the passage across inner crisis, with the twins providing centering and structural integration against disintegration (vi-sras).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pā ‘protect’ is PIE *peh₂- ‘protect, shepherd’ (cf. Latin pāstor ‘shepherd’). The mechanical metaphors (yoke, nave) reflect an IE chariot/vehicle culture embedded in poetic formulae.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks the Aśvins to become functional supports of embodied life—suggesting a yogic-psychological reliance: divine powers are invoked to hold the being together so the sacrificial journey can proceed without inner ‘slippage’.
Stabilization: feel a central ‘nave’ within (heart/solar plexus), yoke the left-right currents, and ask for guarded steadiness.
Anāhata (center) with support to Mūlādhāra (stability)
Nadi-śodhana with a brief kumbhaka (comfortable) to feel ‘yoke’ and ‘nave’
Protected, centered, steady
When scattered, repeat the four supports inwardly: ‘carry me across—unite me—center me—sustain me’; then maintain witness-guard (śvāna) at the sense-doors.
Keep even svara flow; the mantra benefits from steady, unhurried accents to embody ‘support’ and ‘center’.
Slightly lengthen the cadence at ends of pādas (pārayatam / pradhīva / tanūnām / asmān) to seal protection.
nāveva: long ā in nāva, nābhyeva: clear bhy cluster (nā-bhye-va), ariṣaṇyā: keep ṣ retroflex; do not simplify to s
Low, steady, protective
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